HORSE RACING / Airline security alters trainers' plans

Heightened security for air travelers resulting from the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks hasn't affected only people. Horses' schedules have been disrupted, too.

Trainer Bill Morey originally had planned to send Dixie Dot Com from Bay Meadows to Turfway Park for the $400,000 Kentucky Cup Classic two days ago. When he couldn't make arrangements to get the horse there in time to acclimate,

Morey went to Plan B: the $500,000 Meadowlands Cup on Friday night.

Dixie Dot Com would have been joined on a Federal Express cargo flight to New Jersey by Beyond Brilliant, whom trainer Greg Gilchrist planned to run in the $100,000 Kingland Stakes at the Meadowlands on Saturday night.

"Fed Ex gave us notice that the horse handlers had to have a clearance check, which could take seven days," Morey said. "It's been a little complicated on when and where we're going, but with the way things are in the world, I understand."

"I've got to face Skimming and Tiznow," Morey said. "I tried to avoid them, but now we can't get away from then."

Skimming beat Dixie Dot Com in the Pacific Classic at Del Mar, and Tiznow is the reigning Horse of the Year. The Goodwood Breeders' Cup Handicap is only 20 days from the Breeders' Cup Classic on Oct. 27 at Belmont Park, and Morey would have preferred more time between races if Dixie Dot Com earns a shot at the Classic.

"If he finishes 1-2-3, we'd like to go to the Breeders' Cup," Morey said. "I know we are 40- or 50-to-1 in the future book, and we'd probably be that on race day, but it was a dream of Bart Heller's to run Dixie in the Breeders' Cup."

Heller, a co-owner of Dixie Dot Com along with his wife, Ronelle, and Don and Carole Chaiken, died while undergoing a surgical procedure last month.

Gilchrist said he isn't thinking about the Breeders' Cup this year for Beyond Brilliant, a 3-year-old who has seven wins and three seconds in 11 sprints. He said he wants a 6-furlong race restricted to 3-year-olds, such as the Kingland Stakes or the $150,000 Gallant Bob Handicap on Oct. 6 at Philadelphia Park.

"There is a slight possibility we could make it to the Meadowlands, but Philadelphia Park is more likely," Gilchrist said. "We'll have to van him to Los Angeles and fly him from there. People think when you have a good horse, it's easy shipping around, but it takes a lot of planning."

Beyond Brilliant ran the worst race of his career -- finishing next-to-last -- in the Rumson Stakes on Aug. 4 at Monmouth Park in New Jersey only three weeks after he finished second in the Carry Back Stakes at Calder Racecourse in Florida.

"Blame the trainer for that, not the horse," Gilchrist said. "He'd done everything I asked of him, and you kind of get to the point you think you can do anything. Three weeks was not enough time after that race in Florida. With the humidity there and the sandy track, it takes a lot out of you. I thought at the time about giving him a little rest, and I should have gone with my first instinct."

YESTERDAY'S TOP RACES: Outofthebox ran down 1-to-2 favorite E Dubai in the final yards for a half-length victory in the $500,000 Super Derby for 3-year- olds at Louisiana Downs. Ridden by Lonnie Meche, Outofthebox ran 1 1/4 miles on a muddy track in 2:06 1/5 and paid $14.80 for his fifth win in 13 starts.

-- Navesink alternated on the lead from the inside and pulled clear down the stretch to win the $200,000 Jamaica Handicap for 3-year-olds by 3 1/4 lengths at Belmont Park. Ridden by Edgar Prado, Navesink ran 1 1/8 miles on yielding turf in 1:51 2/5 and paid $6.70 for his fifth win in seven starts.